All his work paid off last week when he did well enough at the regional combine to be invited to the national combine this weekend in Regina.

The three-day event that ends Saturday is a valuable opportunity to impress teams even more. Fifty prospects are taking part.

“I feel pretty prepped,” said Pataki, 21. “I'm excited. I tested well last week, so there's nothing to lose this weekend.”

The combine began Thursday with medicals, measurements and interviews with CFL teams. Friday's schedule included the broad jump, vertical jump, bench press and more team interviews.

Players will run the 40-yard dash, shuttle and three-cone drill Saturday before doing one-on-one football drills. For running backs, that includes pass blocking and route running.

Pataki turned heads Friday in the early tests. He led the field with a broad jump of 10 feet three inches – he did 10 feet 3.5 inches at the regional combine – and a vertical jump of 36.5 inches.

“His regional combine numbers were crazy,” CFL.ca's Marshall Ferguson said on the league website. “That’s the fourth-best broad jump ever for a running back. That just goes to show lower-body explosion stuff.”

The key for Pataki will be the 40, Ferguson said. His time was 4.84 seconds last week.

“For his 40, that’s the one concerning thing about him,” he said. “For a guy that jumps so well and is that quick, his shuttle time is amazing but his 10, 20 and 40 are kind of all average, so that would be my one concern that the scouts will probably wonder about.”

The fourth-year back enjoyed a career-best season in 2016, rushing for 814 yards and seven touchdowns. He averaged 101.8 yards per game and 5.5 yards per carry.

Preparing for the combine was different than preparing for the gridiron season. He was focused on acing the tests, not getting in football shape.

Some people may have been surprised at Pataki's regional combine results, but he wasn't.

“I've always been a hard worker with a good work ethic,” he said. “I've always had the ability to prepare myself, so that's what I did.”

He works out in the off-season with trainer Colin Roeszler at Athletes' Fuel Strength & Conditioning in Chatham.

“He's probably the most athletic kid I've ever worked with,” Roeszler said. “God-given talent, but he's a meticulous worker. He's one of those kids who wants to know why we're doing what we're doing, the process behind it.”

The gym comes to a standstill sometimes while everyone watches Pataki train. And when they're sprinting, he's the “alpha dog,” Roeszler said. No one catches him.

Pataki sweated in the weight room preparing for the tests, but there wasn't much he could do for the team interviews.

“My agent told me some basic stuff, some tips, but the interviews are all about being yourself – being humble and being honest,” he said. “Don't lie to them. They can tell when you're lying. They've been trained in that.”

He's ready for teams to ask about his weaknesses on and off the field. They'll try to trip up players, but those with nothing to hide should be OK.

“Their goal is to make you uncomfortable and see what your character is,” Pataki said.